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When you look in the mirror and find an unsightly mark, a webbed form on your face, you are probably wondering how you got it in the first place. That unattractive mark on your face is called spider veins, and the good news is that it can be treated. But what are the reasons behind what causes facial spider veins?

Causes of Facial Spider Veins

The appearance of a pimple is enough to make anyone self-conscious, but a gnarled figure? That can bring about a different level of shame. Since it’s already there, you might as well know how it made an appearance.

These are the common causes of facial spider veins:

• Genes. Many of those who get spider veins happen to be related to each other. Science hasn’t given a concrete reason for this but suffice to say that it runs in the family. Let this be your warning to take better care of yourself if anyone in your family has this issue. Also, risk factors increase the older you get (yes, this issue can happen to anyone of any age).

• Pregnancy. There’s much joy in carrying another human to be born in the world, but the journey isn’t always that sweet. Since skin issues are common among pregnant women, the appearance of gnarled veins on the face doesn’t come as a surprise. Also, the increase in estrogen hormones can be contributing factors that cause blood vessels to break.

• Sun exposure. Your blood vessels become enlarged when you expose yourself too much to the sun. Some of the blood vessels on your face become more exposed when the top layer of your skin peels off.

• Changes in weather. Blood vessels dilate when the weather is hot, making them more pronounced.

• Alcohol consumption. Skin flushes when you consume alcohol, and there’s a reason for this: your blood vessels become enlarged. So if you’re a binge drinker, there’s a chance your heavy alcohol use can lead to the formation of webbed veins on your face.

Spider Vein Treatment Options

No one wants to have the appearance of unsightly veins anywhere on their body, especially in areas that are visible to much of the public. It’s a cause to be self-conscious about one’s appearance, but there is always a silver lining: treatment options are available.

One such treatment is sclerotherapy, which is also used to treat varicose veins. This procedure involves the injection of a solution that closes up a vein, leading blood to choose a different path. The mark will eventually disappear over time.

Another option is laser therapy. The process is similar to sclerotherapy but it uses laser instead of a solution to get rid of offending veins.

Although these treatments do get rid of twisted and unwanted veins, a one-time solution isn’t enough to cure you of the issue. Multiple sessions are needed to ensure the veins stay gone.

Also, undergoing these treatments is not enough: you have to make certain lifestyle changes to reduce the risk of these veins making a comeback.

We specialize in diagnosis and treatment for any and all vascular health issues for patients in San Diego County, Orange County and Riverside County. For more information or to set an appointment, please contact us.

Varicose veins aren’t pretty. Although you may think of them as a cosmetic issue, there are instances when they become a health complication. The good news is that, either way, there is a varicose vein treatment best suited for the severity of your problem.

Varicose Vein Treatment

A doctor needs to perform a physical exam to determine the kind of treatment you’ll receive. It’s not uncommon that varicose veins be treated through self-care methods, such as avoiding long periods of standing or sitting, elevating legs, and wearing compression stockings, but you might need to undergo a non-invasive procedure if your varicose veins are accompanied with pain and aching.

The best varicose vein treatment option for you will depend on the severity of your problem. These are the most effective treatments for severe varicose vein troubles:

Sclerotherapy

This treatment involves injecting a solution into the vein which causes it to scar and then collapse. As a result, blood is forced to travel through other healthier veins. The vein that closed is then absorbed back into the tissue, eliminating the unsightly vein from your legs.

It takes a few weeks before results of sclerotherapy sessions to take effect. In some instances, it might even take a full month. And for some cases, multiple sessions may be needed to fully treat gnarled veins.

Sclerotherapy is often recommended for removing varicose veins that are small to medium in size.

An alternative to conventional sclerotherapy is foam sclerotherapy which can be used to treat larger veins. This procedure still uses a solution but that solution is turned into a foam before being injected into the vein. It is guided by ultrasound and may cause the vein to spasm rather intensely.

Phlebectomy

The process involved in this procedure is called “stripping”. Like the name suggests, this involves “stripping” away varicose veins. Unlike sclerotherapy, this one involves making small incisions and therefore can result in some scarring. Since this involves making incisions on the skin, recovery time may take longer.

Thermal ablation

Also called radiofrequency (RF) ablation, this procedure is non-invasive and makes use of RF energy to heat the collagen found in the offending vein. This leads to the vein collapsing and then shutting down. Just like the results of sclerotherapy, blood is re-routed to veins that are much healthier.

This procedure is an outpatient procedure. Meaning, there is very little downtime. You can be back doing regular tasks in around one to two days. Since the procedure may hurt, a local anesthesia will likely be used for your comfort.

Choosing a Varicose Vein Treatment

You might still need a little help deciding the varicose vein treatment that is right for you even after reading about the different options. That’s what medical professionals are here for: to collaborate and guide you in making the right decision.

A vascular surgeon will also ask you about your current condition or any medication you are taking at the moment in order to give you the best recommendations. To learn more about the different treatment options available, get in touch with San Diego Vascular Center today.

We specialize in diagnosis and treatment for any and all vascular health issues for patients in San Diego County, Orange County and Riverside County. For more information or to set an appointment, please contact us.

Spider veins may be harmless but they can cause some pain, especially for those whose job involves standing for long periods. Not only do they inflict some level of pain, people can be conscious about its appearance on their legs. As such, many opt for spider vein treatment San Diego to get rid of the unsightly veins.

The attempt to “cure” someone of spider veins created a market for creams, concealers, and serums – a market that spanned the globe. Many of these treatments claimed to contain vitamin K, which is an anti-hemorrhagic that reduces blood from spilling and therefore prevents the appearance of spider veins.

While going for a topical may seem cost effective for some, others prefer to go for the more expensive surgical procedures.

Sclerotherapy

This kind of vein treatment involves injecting the offending vein with a solution that irritates, causing the lining to collapse. In the past, compounds such as iron and mercury were used but the side effects were questionable at best. Today, solutions based on saline are used and an advanced form that uses foam is also an option.

The solution that is injected into the veins scars it and leads to its closure. As a result, blood finds another path to a much healthier vein. The “spider-like” appearance on the legs disappear in a few weeks’ time. However, this is a treatment that needs repeat visits in order to effectively treat spider veins.

This treatment doesn’t need the help of anesthesia and can be performed in an office setting. Rest is recommended after the procedure, with full recovery expected in about two weeks. However, it may take longer if the treatment was performed on both legs.

Laser treatments

While sclerotherapy requires the use of needles, this form of vein surgery doesn’t. This treatment is performed by using laser on the vein, which eventually leads it to fade and disappear. Like sclerotherapy, full recovery may take a few weeks and also involves multiple visits.

Post-surgery care

Since these procedures can be done without having a hospital admission, you would think that recovery would be quick. That isn’t the case. Yes, these surgeries aren’t that invasive but you still need time to recover.

In fact, you might feel some levels of pain in the few hours after you’ve had spider vein treatment San Diego. While some pain can be managed without medication, you can take a pain reliever if you find it uncomfortable.

When the pain wears off, you might be tempted to get back into your old activities. However, that is ill-advised as you have to make sure the wounds have totally healed before engaging in any strenuous activities.

Compression stockings are your friend post-surgery. They help improve blood flow and they make you feel better too. While you’re recovering, it would be best to avoid standing or sitting for long hours. You might even need to avoid getting behind the wheel for the first 48 hours at least.

You don’t have to suffer from spider veins since there spider vein treatment San Diego available to get rid of them. Get in touch with San Diego Vascular Center today to discuss the best treatment options for you!

We specialize in diagnosis and treatment for any and all vascular health issues for patients in San Diego County, Orange County and Riverside County. For more information or to set an appointment, please contact us.

Wound care treatments depend on the severity of your wounds. Whether it’s a small scrape or an extreme cut, each one needs some attention and care to make way for proper healing. Otherwise, you can be at risk for infection.

Doctors check and assess a patient’s wound first before they determine the type of treatment that it needs. Usually, it would depend on the wound’s classification: acute or chronic. Here are their differences.

Acute vs. Chronic Wounds

Wound care classifies wounds as acute or chronic. While there’s no standard definition for the two, each one is easily distinguished. The easiest way to know is through its healing period.

Acute wounds have a short duration of healing. From getting the wound, it should go through the normal stages of healing: hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling. This wound often shows signs of healing in four weeks or less.

Chronic wounds, on the other hand, don’t go through a normal healing process. If it’s not showing all the signs of a normal healing process after four weeks, then it requires professional attention. Wounds often become chronic for a few possible reasons: inflammation due to infection, hypoxia, poor nutrition, and some others.

Common Wound Care and Treatment

As mentioned, wound care depends on the wound’s current state. To be familiar with the possible procedures for healing, here is a couple of the most common wound care treatments available.

Clean Surgical Wound Treatment – This is the first treatment you get right after your injury. Ideally, your wound requires treatment right away. However, in some cases, this procedure is doable within the first eight hours of injury.

Skin grafting – Often performed to close a wide-open wound. Other than that, it stops electrolyte and fluid loss and reduces the risk of infection. There are two types of skin graft: the full thickness and the split-thickness skin graft.

Possible Risks, Complications, and Their Treatment

Sometimes, despite best efforts, complications happen on the wound after treatment. To raise awareness, here are some of those complications or risks and how doctors will treat them.

Hematoma and Seroma – When coagulation fails, blood or serum collects itself. If this happens, the wound area can have pain, swelling, as well as drainage. If the complication becomes large and symptomatic, the wound will need exploring, draining, and packing.

Fascial dehiscence – This complication is an example in abdominal surgical incisions. It brings fascial disruption when tension occurs in the abdominal wall and causes to overcome tissue or suture strength. Early dehiscence (less than 14 days) often requires exploration and debridement and should prevent late dehiscence from occurring.

Self and Home Wound Care

Finally, wound care might depend on you. Keep in mind that your wound and its healing relies on how quickly you get treatment. After an injury, seek medical care as soon as possible.

Once you get initial treatment, follow your doctor’s orders for self or home care in order to make way for proper healing.

In the end, always remember that you should always turn to your doctors if you have any concerns about the care, treatment, and healing of your wound.

We specialize in diagnosis and treatment for any and all vascular health issues for patients in San Diego County, Orange County and Riverside County. For more information or to set an appointment, please contact us.

Chronic wounds are something that many diabetic patients must learn to live with. Good thing there are diabetic wound care options that can help improve their quality of life.

Without them, wound healing would not only take longer to heal but could also lead to infections and complications. But why are cuts and wounds slow to heal in diabetic patients?

In some cases, slow healing cuts and wounds is a sign of an underlying disease like diabetes. It’s a symptom you must keep an eye on and you’ll know why in a little bit.

How Wounds Heal 

1. The immune system responds to cuts and wounds, causing them to become inflamed. This is one way of preventing infections.
2. New cells form over the wound in the form of a scab. This indicates that healing is on the way.
3. Scar tissue forms over the cut or wound. This effectively seals the cut and heals the wound.

For most healthy people, the three-stage process happens in a matter of days or weeks, depending on the gravity of the wound. For those in a poor state of health or has diabetes, wound healing will take longer.

Why is a wound slow to heal?

As previously mentioned underlying diseases can cause the healing process to slow down. Certain deficiencies will also have similar results.

Individuals with diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis, and vascular or arterial diseases are highly likely to suffer from a chronic wound. Diabetic patients are sure to require the best diabetic wound care available.

Individuals with low human growth hormone (HGH) and zinc will also experience slow wound healing.

What causes slow wound healing in diabetes patients?

Blood needed for skin repair must reach sores or wounds in order for them to heal faster. Poor blood circulation, however, can occur in patients with diabetes. This is due to their high levels of blood glucose that have an adverse effect on the nerves.

Because the blood can no longer reach affected areas of the body, wounds can remain open and unhealed for months. This can lead to gangrene, fungal infections, and bacterial infections.

If the cuts and wounds occur on the feet, immediate diabetic wound care must be administered. This is because even a graze can increase the risk of amputation if not treated properly.

One solution to reduce the risk of slow healing of wounds is to keep blood glucose levels under control.

Slow wound healing as a symptom of a disease

If you are not diagnosed with diabetes but your cuts and wounds take longer to heal, it is recommended that you have yourself checked, particularly your blood glucose levels.

As previously mentioned, this could be a symptom of underlying diseases. It is best to get a proper diagnosis so you will know if diabetic wound care is the best approach to dealing with your wounds.

Make sure to consult a healthcare professional if a cut or burn takes a long time to heal or shows signs of infection. This is especially crucial if the cut is on your feet. You don’t want to lose your feet, do you?

We specialize in diagnosis and treatment for any and all vascular health issues for patients in San Diego County, Orange County and Riverside County. For more information or to set an appointment, please contact us.